At the 2016-2017 Master of Arts in Teaching Recognition Ceremony, Daphne Zhou was awarded a Mary Roosevelt Honor Scholarship in Teaching and Learning for excellence in academics, demonstrated leadership skills, and dedication to improving the lives and educational opportunities of students. Daphne is pursuing her MAT with a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Below, she shares her thoughts about her educational journey and her chosen career.

October 2016

I was raised in sunny Orange County, and I absolutely love it here. I was thrilled to pursue my undergraduate and now graduate studies in the same county where I grew up.

I recently graduated cum laude from CSUF with a Bachelor of Science. I majored in Child and Adolescent (emphasis in elementary school settings) and minored in Business Administration. I’ve worked with children in various settings – including as a Child Life Intern at a children’s hospital and a children’s art camp assistant. My teaching experience thus far is primarily at private and corporate preschools, and during my undergrad, I spent a few months interning at an elementary school.

Many people who meet me now are surprised to hear that as an elementary school student, I was actually a troubled student with many behavioral issues. My teachers struggled to contain my behavior, and I was an underperforming student up through high school. Many students with behavioral issues find themselves so discouraged that they abandon academic goals; I am grateful that this was not my experience. Instead, I was motivated by this experience to become the teacher that I needed as a troubled student. A teacher who can provide structure and invoke discipline without demoralizing students.

I chose UCI primarily due to a recommendation from an alumnus. She had nothing but positive things to say about the program, which I already knew to be recognized for producing highly trained and qualified teachers. I’m committed to working diligently towards becoming a meritable educator. In my future classroom, I hope to inspire curiosity in young learners. I aim to remain an eternal student myself, as I don’t believe learning has a ceiling or an age limit.